Many years, I don't start getting into Christmas until about the 23rd, so Boxing Day is still the middle of the season for me! This is my first Christmas in this area, so I though I'd blog about some cool Christmas things we've found here in Redmond and around. (We actuallly spent Christmas day with relatives in BC).

 

1. The Santa Train:

 

With images of the Polar Express fresh in his mind, Darrian got to ride on the Santa Train, a seasonal tradition (since 1969, I'm told) run by the volunteers at the Northwest Railway Museum. The line for Santa took a while to move, but it was still an ultra-cool afternoon.

 

 

2. The Redmond Firefighter's Union

 

One Saturday night, we're sitting at home, and suddendly, Santa appears at the top of our Court. No reindeer, but another great group of volunteers, this time in an antique fire truck. Darrian rushed out (along with the other neighborhood kids) and got to meet Santa again. These fire fighters (like most) and their helpers are also ulta-cool.

     

 

 

3. The Tree at Church

 

Maybe it's a small thing, but so much of Christmas is all about the small things. There is a huge tree at the Church we've been attending since we moved, and that's a bit cool. But, the majority of the decorations on the tree are family and individual photos of the church family... and some that aren't able to be with us any more. It was cool to be asked to pose to our photo to be added to the tree.

 

 

 

4. Snowflake Lane at Bellevue Square

 

So, I you know me, you are probably surprised to read the words "cool" and "Bellevue Square" in the same sentence. However, it's hard to beat having 60 live drummers  (talented musicians dressed as toy soldiers) march in and line 4 city blooks performing Christmas melodies to synchronized giant snowflakes being projected onto buildings.

 

Yes, I know it's a gimmick to get me into the mall and buy stuff (and it actually worked -- amazing, since I *hate* malls at Christmas), but it was still a pretty impressive thing to take the five year olds to see.

 

 

They even had fake snow.

 

 

 

Speaking of snow....

 

5. Cool thing number 5:  The Weather.

 

We had to walk to Church on Christmas morning in the rain. In our shirtsleves.

 

 

 

Belated Merry Christmas, Happy Boxing Day, and best wishes for 2006!